Post-Master's Option

Overview

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a practice-focused doctorate based on the recommendations of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing's "Position Statement on the Practice Doctorate in Nursing" and on their "Essentials of the Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice." The Post-Master’s DNP option is ideal for candidates who: possess a master’s degree in nursing or work in the areas of health services leadership management, nursing informatics, or community and public health and hold a master’s degree in a relevant field such as an MBA, MPA, MPH, etc.

Blended Format

The Post-Master’s DNP option is delivered in a blended format, offering flexibility and efficiency for busy professionals. The blended program consists of classes that are offered online, including synchronous and asynchronous Web conferencing. Students will have synchronous Web conferencing five times per semester at scheduled class time.

Program Inquiries

Please direct admissions-related inquiries to:

University of Maryland School of NursingOffice of Admissions655 West Lombard Street, Room 102Baltimore, MD 21201-1579410- 706-0501

Plans of Study

The program requires 36-46 credits. Full-time or part-time options are available.

Full-Time Plan of Study

Full-time students must take the core courses in the order listed in the chart below. NDNP 811, 812, 813, and the elective may be taken as listed below or in a different sequence as agreed upon by the advisor and the student. After NDNP 811 is completed, NDNP 812 and NDNP 813 must be taken consecutively, and successfully completed in the following semesters, or NDNP 816 Scholarly Project Advisement must be taken every semester until successfully completed. Scholarly Project advisement does not count toward elective credits.

Part-Time Plan of Study

Part-time students must take the core courses in the order listed in the chart below. NDNP 811, 812, 813, and the elective may be taken as listed below or in a different sequence as agreed upon by the advisor and the student. After NDNP 811 is completed, NDNP 812 and NDNP 813 must be taken consecutively, and successfully completed in the following semesters, or NDNP 816 Scholarly Project Advisement must be taken every semester until successfully completed. Scholarly Project advisement does not count toward elective credits.

Plan of Study for Students Admitted in Fall 2013 and Prior

Full-time students must take the core courses and NDNP 810 in the order listed in the chart below. Electives and NDNP 811, 812, and 813 may be taken as listed below or in a different sequence as agreed upon by the advisor and student. After NDNP 811 is completed, NDNP 812 and NDNP 813 must be taken consecutively and successfully completed in the following semesters, or Capstone Advisement must be taken every semester until successfully completed. Capstone Advisement does not count toward elective credits. Of the 15 elective credits, three credits must be taken in health policy and three credits must be taken in translating evidence into practice.

Semester and Course Number/Title

Credit/Clinical Hours

Fall Year 1

NDNP 802: Methods for Evidence-based Practice

3 Credits

NDNP 804: Theory for Evidence-based Practice

3 Credits

ELECTIVE

3-6 Credits

NDNP 810: Capstone Project Identification

1 Credit

Total:

10-13 Credits

Spring Year 1

NDNP 805: Design and Analysis in Evidence-based Practice

4 Credits

NDNP 807: Information Systems and Technology for the Improvement and Transformation in Health Care

3 Credits

ELECTIVE

3-6 Credits

NDNP 811: Capstone II: Project Development

1 Credit

Total:

11-14 Credits

Summer Year 1

SPECIALTY ELECTIVE

1-3 Credits

NDNP 809: Complex Health Care Organizations

3 Credits

NDNP 812: Capstone III: Project Implementation

1 Credit

Total:

5-7 Credits

Fall Year 2

NDNP 815: Leadership and Interprofessional Co-lab

3 Credits

SPECIALTY ELECTIVE

8-10 Credits

NDNP 813: Capstone IV: Project Evaluation and Dissemination

1 Credit

Total:

12-14 Credits

TOTAL CREDITS: 38-48

Part-time students must take the core courses and NDNP 810 in the order listed in the chart below. Electives and NDNP 811, 812, and 813 may be taken as listed below or in a different sequence as agreed upon by the advisor and student. After NDNP 811 is completed, NDNP 812 and NDNP 813 must be taken consecutively and successfully completed in the following semesters, or Capstone Advisement must be taken every semester until successfully completed. Capstone advisement does not count toward elective credits. Of the 15 elective credits, three credits must be taken in health policy and three credits must be taken in translating evidence into practice.

Practicum Hours

Practicum hours ensure that students can put theory into practice. The hours are described in the AACN Essentials for Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice (2006). The Essentials refer to 1,000 post-baccalaureate hours that must be completed in practice environments. Students are required to provide official verification of hours completed in their master's/post-master's in nursing program and must complete any remaining hours to meet 1,000 hours. Regardless of the number of master’s/post-master’s hours completed, at least 250 hours must be completed at the doctoral level der to demonstrate doctoral competency. These hours must be approved and academically supervised by either a faculty member or a preceptor/capstone committee member. Students are required to document the hours. Elective courses may be taken to satisfy the practicum requirement. Some students will need to complete more credits (over and beyond the 38 credits) to meet the practicum hours required by AACN.

FAQs

I am in the last semester of my master's degree program and will be graduating in May. Can I apply for the DNP (Post-Master’s) option prior to graduation?

Yes.

Do you allow for specialty or concentration in the DNP (Post-Master’s) option?

Nurses who want to pursue a DNP with a specialty should apply for the DNP with Specialties (Post-Master’s).

Is there a residency, clinical, or practicum requirement?

Yes, there is a practicum requirement. See information under Plans of Study.

Could clinical hours, independent study, or practicum time be set up in my home state?

Yes. Students with contacts for clinical hours, independent studies, or practicum hours may work with course faculty to arrange a contract to participate in out-of-state learning.

I do not have a master’s degree in nursing. May I apply to the DNP (Post-Master’s) option without a Master of Science in nursing?

Yes, nurses who have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing should apply for the Post-BSN to DNP option. Nurses who work in areas of health services leadership management, nursing informatics, or community and public health and hold a master’s degree in a relevant field such as an MBA, MPA, MPH, etc., should apply for the DNP with Specialties (Post-Master’s) option.

Is the program full-time or part-time?

There is a full-time plan of study and a part-time plan of study.

What is the education format for the DNP (Post-Master’s) option?

The DNP (Post-Master’s) option is delivered in a blended format. This highly accommodating format offers tremendous flexibility and efficiency for busy professionals. The blended program consists of classes that are offered online, including synchronous and asynchronous Web conferencing. Students will have synchronous Web conferencing five times per semester at scheduled class time.

How many days are students required to be on campus or available?

Students are required to participate in synchronous learning/teaching via Web conference approximately five days per semester.

Most core courses are held during the day, generally on Fridays. Capstone courses alternate between evenings and Fridays. Electives are offered in both online and face-to-face format.

On-campus orientation is mandatory only for the first semester and is scheduled in the summer.

I have a master’s degree in nursing. Will any of my credits transfer into the DNP (Post-Master’s) option?

No, the program is a post-master of science option. The number of credits and the curriculum is designed to follow a master’s degree in nursing and builds upon that curriculum.

I have taken non-degree-earning post-master’s coursework. Will any of my credits transfer into the program?

Students may apply to transfer six credits into the program. Courses will be reviewed to ensure that they are appropriate doctoral-level courses and are consistent with the objectives of the DNP program. Transferred courses begin the five-year academic timeframe in which students must complete the program. For example, if a course was taken in spring of 2009 and transferred into the DNP program, the student must complete the DNP program by the end of fall 2013, regardless of his/her official admission into the DNP program. See the Student Handbook for full explanation of transfer of credit.